Local Organization Working to Increase Votes from Local Latinos

September 7, 2012 at 1:59 AM CDT - Updated June 28 at 6:07 AM

Josh NavarroNewsWest 9

PERMIAN BASIN- Even with both the Republican and Democratic conventions wrapped up, the work is just beginning. Now there's a big push to energize voters right now and some are expecting the Permian Basin's Latino community could really have a big say on the outcome of this year's election.

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed officials say Hispanics will be a decisive force this election and are predicting to be the deciding factor for either President Barack Obama or Governor Mitt Romney to win this year.

A local Latino group who says they're doing everything they can to beef up the Latino vote here in the Permian Basin.

"We don't get out to vote, we wont a see any difference in what's going on," Carol Uranga with The League of United Latin American Citizens, said.

She says Latino voter turnout has been low in previous years, Latinos can be registered to vote but the problem is they won't head out to the polls come Election Day.

"We try to encourage as many people as we can, every time we see them, at churches, at our fiestas, at our church festivals. We try to get it out there and remind people that it is very important for them to vote," Uranga said.

Earlier this week, we saw San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro as the first Hispanic in history to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. Just last week at the Republican National Convention, audiences saw the U.S. Senator from Florida Marco Rubio among other Hispanics at prime speaking spots.

Both parties are giving a nod to the importance of Latino voters and it's transcending here in West Texas.

"I think that this year they're realizing what their vote can be all about," Uranga said.

In a recent Gallup poll immediately following the conclusion of the Republican National Convention shows that Governor Romney currently trails President Obama 59 percent to 32 percent among Hispanic registered voters.

"We need to support each other whether it's Republicans, whether it's Democrats, what's right is right and what will work is going to work for us," Uranga said.